Are you struggling through the winter months? Is the cold and snow getting you down?
For us gardeners, and especially for those like me here in upstate NY– winter can be long. There are more months that we can’t be in the garden than those we can. It’s hard to be away from what we love for all that time.
But never fear- there is help for us! Here are a few suggestions that will make the time, if not fly by, a little easier to handle.
1. Indulge in Garden Plans
Let’s face it. From spring until autumn, we gardeners are too busy digging in the dirt to concentrate on garden planning. There’s always something to water, transplant, or weed that keeps us outside doing just one more thing before the end of the day.
So there’s no better time to plan your garden than the winter months when it’s cold and snowy outside.
I personally really enjoy this planning stage.
Right now we have the luxury to cozy up to the fireplace with a cup of coffee and let our imagination run wild as we indulge our dream garden fantasies.
Whether you’re old-school like me and like to pull out your sketch pad and colored pencils, or you’re more technologically inclined and use garden design apps like iScape, Home Outside, or Planter (for vegetable gardening), there are endless possibilities to explore in our garden spaces.
I also like to pull out my old plant catalogs, garden books, and magazines, making lists of plants for different soil conditions, sun preferences, and compatibility.
If you are someone who is particularly organized, then you have probably already made a note of what you planted where last season in your garden. But, if you’re more like me– putting it off until the plants die back into unrecognizable sticks– you’ll have to work from memory. Look back at any pictures you’ve taken over the previous season to help you. It’s a great chance to revisit your hard work!
2. Winter Sowing
Winter sowing is a great way to garden in winter, and it’s so simple, that everyone can do it.
All you need are some empty, clear jugs- milk jugs work best, some strong tape, potting soil, a drill bit, or something to make holes in the plastic, and scissors. Check out my blog about winter sowing, including a simple tutorial to get started here.
The best thing about winter sowing is that it’s a chance to get some dirt under your fingernails while the snow flies.
Like a lot of other gardeners, what we miss most is the sensory experience- the smell of fresh compost, the sound of insects buzzing around our ears, the feel of good soil. And when it’s frozen outside, this is impossible for most of us.
Winter sowing is a chance to get a taste of summer with the hope of spring in your heart.
So grab some seeds, some newspapers, and some potting soil, and get planting!
3. Repot your Houseplants
Along with number 2, repotting your houseplants is just an good excuse to play in the soil.
So why not enjoy the process and leisurely spend some time doing it?
If you’re like me, your poor houseplants get a little neglected in the summer months in favor of the garden. But here in the northeast portion of the US, they also get a lot more sun during that time, so they tend to thrive anyway. I transition most of them outside in early summer- and they love it. Lots of lush growth!
But winter is a good time to inspect them closely.
Do you see strange spots on any of the leaves? Maybe you notice tiny gnats flying around them? Is your soil getting white on top from mineral buildup?
This is a great chance to correct any of these issues.
Plants need fresh new soil every 12 to 18 months, depending on how actively they are growing. As they grow, they use up nutrients, which need to be replenished.
Full disclosure- winter isn’t the best time to be messing around with houseplants. Remember that in winter with less sun, plants are usually in a dormancy phase. In spring, when the longer days tell them to start their new growth, is a better time to replace the soil, and a good time for a bit of fertilizer as well.
However, sometimes we need to take opportunities as they come.
And, if winter is when you have the time to repot, or if you get a strong desire to give your plants some attention- I say, go for it!
Late winter, or early spring, when the days start getting warmer and all you want to do is get outside- but the ground isn’t ready to be worked quite yet, is a great time to do this also.
4. Learn More about Gardening from the Experts
The information age hasn’t forgotten us gardeners, and there are so many great websites, social media sites, and YouTube videos for every kind of gardener that exists.
Of course, there could always be more (especially shows based in the us), am I right, or am I right? (hint hint- networks)
And there are so many talented, dedicated people gardening, and making great videos about their journey.
And sometimes, we just get that itch to bask in the view of beautiful plants and gardens, right?
There are garden design shows on all the networks like Hulu, Prime, and Netflix that will fulfill this wish. Whether you’re interested in flower gardening, native gardening, regenerative gardening, vegetable gardening, hydroponics, or anything else, there is a webinar, a show, or an informative website for you.
I appreciate videos and information by Doug Tallamy, like Nature’s Best Hope, and Native Keystone Plants for Wildlife.
If you’re interested in native plants and working to help pollinators and native insects while still learning garden design, anything by Monarch Gardens LLC, the brains behind the popular book Prairie Up, on YouTube is wonderful.
They both have great information that’s easy to understand for all gardening levels.
I also enjoyed the few seasons of a British garden design show called, Your Garden Made Perfect, found on Hulu.
Also, the movies The Biggest Little Farm, and Kiss the Ground, (narrated by Woody Harrelson) were amazing- so inspiring to learn to care for our beautiful earth!
Other popular and interesting shows are Gardener’s World, Big Dreams, Small Spaces, Love Your Garden, and Growing a Greener World.
All that it takes is a quick search in the search bar, and off you go!
5. Get Together with Other Gardeners
If you know any gardeners in your area, now you have plenty of time to get together with them and talk about plants to your heart’s content.
Why not have a gardening get-together, where everyone brings their favorite gardening books, magazines, and pictures of their own gardens?
It can be a great way to develop your plant community, gather new ideas, and talk about what works in your particular place on this beautiful earth. Who better knows the benefits and struggles of gardening in your area than your neighbors? And who likes to talk about composting, soil, plants, and pots ad nauseam more than gardeners?
You’ll never run out of things to talk about.
So, throw on a pot of tea, grab some delicious snacks, and send out an invite, and you’ll have a grand afternoon.
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Were any of these suggestions helpful?
What do you think- how do you garden in winter? We want to hear from you.
And remember, spring is only a few months away!